Social Work Licensure in North Carolina

North Carolina has many distinctions but perhaps its most famous is that it is home of the legendary University of North Carolina Tar Heels college basketball team. In fact, Michael Jordan himself went to UNC and won a national championship with them in 1982 by hitting the game winning shot. There is no question that North Carolina is great place to live. North Carolina is also a great state to start your licensed Social Work career in. It is important to remember that there can always be updates or changes to a state’s rules and regulations. Remember, that the best way to stay informed with current regulations is the state’s website on licensure. Here is the website for the State of North Carolina:

There are four different kinds of social work licenses in North Carolina: Certified Social Worker (CSW), Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM), Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Certified Social Worker (CSW)

If you wish to attain the title Certified Social Worker (LSW) in North Carolina, you must first get a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited university or college.

Finally, you must pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Bachelor’s Level Exam.

To renew your license, you must have successfully completed 40 contact hours of continuing education.

Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM)

If you wish to attain the title Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM) in North Carolina, you must first get a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited university or college.

To attain your license, you will need to accrue 3,000 hours of professional Social Work supervised practice. You will need to log these hours over not less than two years, with 100 hours of supervision. Of those 100 hours no more than 50 may be group supervision.

Finally, you must pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Advanced Generalist Level Exam.

To renew your license, you must have successfully completed 40 contact hours of continuing education.

Certified Master Social Worker (LMSW)

To become a Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) in North Carolina, you must first get your Master or Doctorate of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited university or college.

There is no field experience component for this licensure.

You must then receive a passing score on an Association of Social Workers ASWB Master Level Exam.

To renew your license, you must have successfully completed 40 contact hours of continuing education.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

If you wish to hold the title of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in North Carolina, you must first get a Master or Doctorate of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited university or college.

To attain your license, you will need to accrue 3,000 hours of professional Social Work supervised practice. You will need to log these hours over not less than two years, with 100 hours of supervision. Of those 100 hours no more than 25 hours may be group supervision.

Once you have completed and sent in your application you may apply with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) for their Clinical Level exam. Once you pass the test you will be eligible to receive your new title of Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of North Carolina.

To renew your license, you must have successfully completed 40 contact hours of continuing education.